St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-07
BRINK OF THE GRAVE.
Mr.. Beecher Still Alive, But There is Not
CLEAN of Hope For His
Recovery.
His Physicians Give Him Up, and His
Family at His Bedside Waiting
for the End.
Great Many People Congregated ON
the Sidewalk in Front of
the House.
DIR. Talmage Visits the Dying Pastor
THE News at Plymouth
Church.

New YORK, March Z, "a. m-William G.
Beecher is reported as expressing the opin-
ion that his father would not be alive after
o'clock this morning. Many people, anX-
iouS to hear the latest news of the dying
divine, are congregated on the sidewalk in
front of the house. st. Clair Mckelway,
managing editor of the Brooklyn Eagle,
says that preliminary steps were
making to celebrate triple anniver-
Sary of events in Mr.. Beecher's
life. The celebration was to have taken
place in September III the Brooklyn acad-
emy of music. This is the fiftieth year of
Mr.. Beecher'S marriage, the tiftieth of his
ordination TO the ministry and the fortieth
of his pastorate of Plymouth church. Had
the beloved pastor lived, his congregation
and friends would have celebrated the
events in big jubilee.
NEW YORK, March Up to 3 a. III. no
report has been received from Mr..
Beecher. DR.. Hammond said tonight:
Mr.. Beecher will never be conscious again.
There is absolutely no hope. He may die
in two hours, and he may last couple of
days, but death is certain. The paraly-
sis of his entire left side is
now complete. Nothing arouses him.
He lies in state of coma, but suffers no
pain, or, at least. is conscious of none.
The patient is now merely a breathing ma
chine. Practically he is dead man.
Earlier Reports
LONG BEFORE DAYLIGHT
this morning it was noticed that many more
people were on the street than usual in the
vicinity of the Beecher residence, and by
o'clock there was quite a crowd eagerly
looking for the first bulletin. At 9 o'clock
the following bulletin was issued:
Mr. Beecher is about the same. No change
since last evening.
The first bulletin was signed by DR.. W.
r. Searle, the Beecher family physician,
and as it was posted on the door post the
people crowded the stOop to read it. There
was feeling of thankfulness plainly viSi
BILE on the countenances of the aSsemblage
that the life of the illustriOus divine was
still spared. As the day advanced the
throng on the sidewalks of Clarke and
Hicks streets rendered the street almost i'm
passable. In the crowd were people of
every station Of life, from the millionaire to
the prosperous tradesman and the poor la
borer. The expressions of sympathy and
coincidence that were heard on all sides
only made another powerful indication of
the high esteem in which the Plymouth pas
tor was held by all classes. During the
morning scores of carriages drove past the
house. and the occupants OF many of them
aliglited and looked upon
THE BULLETIN
and then departed. while others left their
cards with the attendant. Those who We're
more intimately acquainted were admitted
into the house and made inquiry concern
ing the patient personally, but only the inn
mediate family were allowed into the sick
chamber There was. however. an eXcep-
ton made in the case of the Rev. De Witt
Talmage. who called with his daughter
Edith about 1:30,. and he was admitted
into Mr. Beecher'S presence Fifteen Min
utes later Mr. Talmage left the house. The
other callers were mostly city officials of
New York and Brooklyn. Among them
were eX-Mayor Seth Low, Mayor Whitney.
Civil Service Commissioner Preston. "Dea.
con- S. V. White, Dr.. Hitchcock, presi-
ident of the Union seminary, New York.
Joseph Howard, Sr. About 10 O'Clock this
morning DR.. Hammond arrived at the
house. and an hour later the following
bulletin was issued:
Prof. w. Hulmuth, of New York, in con-
sultation, freely confirms the opinion of the
phy sicians. Mr.. Beecher is gradually fail
ing He may, however, live for some days.
That all hope was given up was plainly
indicated by this bulletin ami the remark of
Rev. De Witt Talmage,
1T Is VERY SERIOUS"
as he passed out. This bulletin was read
to the congregation at Plymouth church at
the IL o'clock services this morning. The
effect was noticeable on the congregation
by the number of handkerchiefs in use and
the stifed s0bs of many of those present.
At the church of DIR. Talmage the scene
after the reverend gentleman's prayer was
almost as affecting. DR.. Talmage made a
very tender appeal on behalf Of Nlr.
Beecher. He prayed fervently for the di-
vine blessing of the afflicted preacher, and
alluded to Mr.. Beecher as the friend of the
millionaire, the friend of the workingman.
the friendless, and all men, whether rich or
poor. AT 2:30 p. m. this bulletin appeared:
DR.. Hammond is in consultation. Mr..
Beecher is in state of deep coma. No sign
of pain or consciousness of any sort. Death
considered certain, but at an Indefinite time,
to-day probably.
Mr.. Beecher has been in deep comatose
condition all day. He does not move, but
lies Oh his back with all occasional move
ment of the right arm. His breathing is
heavy and spasmodic, giving four or five
heavy respirations and then almost ceasing.
Mrs Beecher has been most of the time in
the sick room and has scarcely ever left her
husband
SHE BEARS UP HEROICALLY,
and scarcely ever leaves her husbands side.
Since the doctors informed the members of
the family that it was only question of
time for the end they remain in the sick
chamber awaiting new developments. Mr.
Beecher's eldest daughter, the wife of Rev.
Samuel Scoville, of Stamford. Conn.,, az
rived at the house Saturday night, and her
husband and two children will Immediately
follow. The other members of the family
I'm the house now are Mr.. BeecherS eldest
son. Col Beecher, his wife and two
daughters and son; Henry Ward Beecher
w. C. Beecher and his wife, who live
st Columbia Heights. Their son,
Herbert, who has been telegraphed
To San Francisco for, is on the ocean be-
tween Portland Ore, and San francisco.
He is not expected to reach New York in
time to see his father alive, as he is not
due in San Francisco till tomorrow, and
then he has a weeks ride before he can
reach here. This afternoon Mr.. Chandler
and wife. of Peekskill, arrived at the Hicks
street residence. Mr.. Chandler is manager
of Mr.. Beecher's Peekskll farm. Shortly
after o'clock this afternoon. DR.. Searle
arrived at the house, and remained the
greater part of the afternoon. He left
ehont o'clock in company with Mr.. Bir-
mingham, friend of the family. He in
formed the reporters that there was no
possible hope of Mr.. Beecher's recovery;
He was still in a comatose state. He said